Cordyline plant named `Katrijn`

ABSTRACT

A Cordyline plant named Katrijn, primarily characterized by its uniquely variegated leaves. Young leaves are of yellow-green variegation with an ivory-white margin and pink edge. As the leaves mature, the green becomes darker and the stripes change mainly to medium to dark red-purple with some pink. Between young and mature leaves, the color variation is striking.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Cordylineplant, botanically known as Cordyline fruticosa, and referred to by thecultivar name Katrijn.

Katrijn is a spontaneous mutation discovered by the inventor ReginaldDeroose in 1987 in a greenhouse in Evergem, Belgium. The new cultivarwas discovered growing among plants of the parent cultivar Kiwi, acommercial but unpatented cultivar having yellow-green variegated leaveswith a dark red to dark pink margin. The new cultivar was immediatelyrecognized by its uniquely variegated leaves, having distinct colorsranging from green to pink and purple, with ivory-white margins and pinkedges.

Subsequent asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cuttings,performed by the inventor in Evergem, Belgium, has demonstrated that thecombination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivarare firmly fixed and are retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and in combinationdistinguish Katrijn as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Katrijn has a single main stem, with all leaves being locatedopposite to each other.

2. Short internodes.

3. The leaf stems are grooved.

4. Leaves are oblong to lanceolate. The tips of the leaves bend down andthe margins are wavy.

5. The variegated leaves have distinct colors ranging from green to pinkand purple, with ivory-white margins and pink edges. Young leaves haveprimarily green variegation, with narrow pink striations or strips. Asthe leaves mature, the green becomes darker and eventually becomesmainly pink and various shades of medium to dark red-purple.

In comparison to the parent cultivar and other known cultivars, Katrijnis primarily distinguished by its purple/pink variegated mature leaves.As above noted, young leaves have more green variegation, but as theleaves mature, the green changes primarily to medium to dark purple-redwith striations or stripes of pink. The display of young and matureleaves of the entire spectrum of variegated colors is unique. The leavesof the parent cultivar kiwi are variegated yellow-green, with a darkpink to dark red margin, and older leaves of kiwi have essentially thesame variegation colors as young leaves.

The accompanying color photographs show the unique features of the newcultivar, with colors being as accurate as possible with illustrationsof this type. The top photo is a top perspective view of an entireplant, clearly showing the variegation patterns of young and matureleaves. The photo on the bottom is a close-up view showing thevariegation colors in more detail.

The following observations, measurements and values describe plantsgrown in Evergem, Belgium under greenhouse conditions which closelyapproximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) ColourChart, except where general color terms of ordinary significance areused. The color values were determined between 10 a.m. and noon in Aug.1992 under slightly clouded but bright daylight conditions.

Origin: Mutation of Cordyline fruticosa Kiwi.

Classification: Cordyline fruticosa cv Katrijn.

Propagation: By cuttings.

Plant: The plant has the usual Cordyline fruticosa shape. The plant hasa main stem with leaves opposite to each other. The stem has shortinternodes, about 1.5 to 2 cm. The leaves are at an angle of about 30°to the main stem. The leaves are arching-recurved and the leaf tips benddown.

Leaves:

Form.--Oblong to lanceolate with tips bending down.

Size.--22 cm long and 5 cm wide.

Margin.--Smooth and wavy.

Aspect.--Surface is slightly wavy.

Texture.--Mat to glossy.

Leaf stem.--About 7.5 cm long; width varies from 8 mm to at bottom to 4mm at top.

Veins.--Thick midrib with normal side veins extending from the midriband following the length of the leave.

Variegation.--Irregular striping along the leaf in green, ivory, pinkand purple.

Color.--Upper surface: Young leaves have an ivory white marginapproximately 11C with a pink 54A edge, stripes of green 145A, 146A and147A, and stripes of yellow 8A. When the leaves mature, the greenstripes are more 147A and 189A. When mature, the striping changes tomainly pink and purple 59C, 54A and 70A. The margin remains ivory white11C with a trace of pink, and the edge pink 54A. Lower Surface: Greenapproximatley 189A with very visible side veins 70A in color, and ivorywhite 11C margins with a trace of pink, and the edge pink 54A. Uppersurface midrib: Youngest leaves green 147A; older leaves 54A to 70A.Lower surface midrib: 70A. Leafstem: Middle about R.H.S. 200A, the edges54A.

Inflorescence: Not significant.

Roots: Normal, white.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cordyline plant named Katrijn, as illustrated and described. 